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The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) said the call for a day-long protest in 14 states on Wednesday against host of issues, particularly unilateral changes in labour laws, evoked massive participation across the country.

"In response to the call given by the BMS to observe nationwide Protest Day on May 20, 2020 against the unilateral changes in labour laws in 14 states, there was tremendous response from all over the country," a BMS statement said.

BMS has asked the government to consider the plight of the workers and to issue stringent directions for the payment of wages immediately. It also requested the central government to intervene and halt changes in the labour laws by state governments, the union said in a statement.

The union has claimed that the protest was done adhering to social distancing norms.

According to the statement, thousands of BMS activists started demonstration on the roads, roof tops, in front of houses, before government offices and later sent a memoranda to the President of India requesting to negate the anti-labour acts of state governments.

The protest is against not making available proper facilities for migrant labourers; non payment of wages for lockdown period; irregularities in providing COVID-19 benefits; not making travel arrangement for migrant labours to return to home states; massive job losses increasing working hours from 8-12 hours; unilateral changes in labour laws in 14 states and against unbridled privatization, it added.

The district units and Industrial Federations have sent memorandums to President of India on labour law changes and local administrations on other issues. Around 450 district Units will send memorandums on Wednesday, it added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)